Anti-graft agency, EFCC on Thursday arraigned before Justice S.C. Amadi of the State High Court in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State one Irene Okeoha on one-count charge of stealing to the tune of N8 million.
Okeoha who served in Ecobank Plc, Hotel Presidential branch as the Customer Service Manager allegedly defrauded the bank to the tune of N8 million.
The charge against her read: “That you, Mrs. Irene Okeoha on or about 17th February, 2016 at Hotel Presidential Port Harcourt, within the Port Harcourt Division of this Honorable Court did fraudulently steal the sum of N8 million only, property of Ecobank Plc and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 390 (9) of the Criminal Code CAP 37 Vol. 11 Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria 1999.”
The accused however pleaded not guilty to the charge read to her, this prompted the prosecution counsel, Ben Ubi to move for the court to set a trial commencement date further requesting that the defendant be remanded in prison custody.
The defence counsel however noted that the accused was already on an Administrative bail by the EFCC and therefore sought the court to grant the accused bail.
The presiding judge however granted bail in the sum of N20 million and one surety in the like sum to the accused. He added that the surety must be resident within the court’s jurisdiction and must possess a landed property to be verified by the prosecution.
Justice Amadi also ruled that the Surety is also to depose to an affidavit of means. He thereafter adjourned the case to May 25, 2016 for trial and ordered that the defendant to be remanded in prison custody pending the perfection of her bail.
Leave a Reply